At the time, I had laughed.
Now… I understood.
Paying attention had been the way he loved people.
Three days later, I met his attorney again.
The small office above the bookstore smelled faintly of old paper and coffee.
The green backpack sat beside my chair.
“I’ve read the notebook,” I said. Paying attention had been the way he loved people.
He nodded. “I thought you might.”
“But I still don’t understand why he married me.”
The attorney remained silent for a long moment.
Then he asked, “What did Thomas ever ask you for?”
I blinked.
“What do you mean?”
“Think carefully.”
I did.
He never asked for money.
Never asked me to stay longer.
Never asked me to cancel plans.
Never even asked me to promise anything after he was gone.
Finally, I whispered, “Nothing.”
The attorney gave me a sad smile.
“Exactly.”
He opened the folder lying on his desk.
